• Plans to educate public on consumer rights 
• Health Ministry Secy says unaware whether reports have been submitted 

In the wake of the Consumer Affairs Authority's (CAA) nationwide inspections that uncovered the use of expired laboratory chemicals in certain hospitals and medical laboratories, the Authority stated that it has reached an agreement with the Ministry of Health to jointly educate the public on consumer rights in the healthcare sector.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (19), Acting Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the CAA, M M S K Karunarathne said the CAA and the Ministry, together with Provincial Health authorities and Public Health Inspectors, would conduct a joint awareness programme following the recent findings.

She said that inspections had revealed that some institutions had used expired laboratory chemicals without verifying their expiry dates, raising concerns over the reliability and accuracy of patients' test results. "Under Section 30 of the CAA Act, consumers cannot be misled through unfair business practices. The use of expired chemicals for laboratory testing could have affected the reliability and accuracy of the results." 

Karunarathne added that institutions using expired chemicals could not be considered to have exercised the level of care, skill and professional diligence expected of healthcare providers. "The CAA has a responsibility to protect consumer rights and promote a disciplined business culture. Such conduct amounts to an offence under the CAA Act." 

Responding to questions on whether the CAA could take action against private hospitals, she said that although the operation and standards of private hospitals fall under another regulatory authority, the CAA is empowered to act against unfair trade practices, including the use of expired products.

She added that consumers are also able to lodge complaints with the Authority regarding such violations.

Karunarathne also confirmed that the CAA had already informed the Private Health Services Regulatory Council (PHSRC) of its findings. "We have informed them. We have also reached an agreement with the Health Ministry to conduct a joint public awareness programme with Provincial Health authorities and Public Health Inspector offices to educate the public about their rights as consumers," she said.

However, attempts by The Daily Morning to obtain a comment from the Chairman of the PHSRC, Dr Asela Gunawardana, who also serves as the Director General of Health Services, were unsuccessful.

Health Ministry Secretary Dr Anil Jasinghe said that he was unaware whether the CAA had formally submitted its findings to either the PHSRC or the Ministry of Health. "I don't know whether they have submitted reports regarding their findings to the PHSRC or the Ministry of Health. To my knowledge, I have no idea," he said.

The CAA recently carried out inspections at private hospitals and medical laboratories across the country as part of a nationwide enforcement operation targeting the use of expired medical and laboratory products.